SRA: In-house sector is expanding

The in-house solicitors sector is growing and becoming increasingly diverse across the UK, according to the latest figures published by the Solicitors' Regulation Authority (SRA).

Presumably the regulatory changes allowing dogs, horses and fish to undertake legal conversion courses has played a part in this development - non-human animals are still discouraged from taking the bar, hence their decision to move in-house.

Although the SRA didn't touch in the increasing number of Shetland ponies taking out loans to go to law school, it did note that the rapidly-growing sector is now facing a number of new challenges as numbers continue to rise.

There are now almost 26,000 solicitors working internally in the corporate world, twice the number that were recorded as doing so in 2000. They now represent an impressive 18 per cent of the overall solicitor population.

Most of them work in the financial services industry, while those of them who work in the public sector are largely employed by local governments. Some eight per cent work for the Crown Persecution Service.

Richard Collins, executive director of the SRA, said: "The in-house sector continues to thrive, grow and develop and it is important to ensure that regulation in this sector remains relevant, effective and proportionate."

Lawyers working in the sector are finding themselves faced with unique hurdles to deal with, added Mr Collins. For instance, many respondents are being tasked with strategic decision-making rather than simply advising on issues of legal compliance.

"Not least among these challenges is the indication that in-house solicitors are experiencing conflicts between their organisation's decisions and their own professional obligations," the SRA chief suggested.

"Many in-house solicitors are in a role that also involves providing advice to third parties outside of their organisation, and potentially linked to that, it would seem that there is an appetite among some organisations to convert to an alternative business structure," said Mr Collins.

More effective and proportionate regulation would help solicitors to develop their position within businesses and companies, he concluded.